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Foal Training

Horse Weaning Pt 1

Horse Weaning Pt 2

Horse Weaning:
Preparing for Foal Weaning

There are two major points in a young horse's life in which it can be the most vulnerable and impressionable. The first hours of its life are obviously the most important which is why foals are so attached to their mothers. However the second most important point is during the horse weaning process. Therefore it is of most importance that the foal weaning procedure is done carefully and well thought out. Before the actual horse weaning takes place, you have to be sure your foal is ready for weaning. Below we are going to discuss the steps you can take to prepare your young horse for foal weaning.



One of the most commonly asked question about foal weaning is at what age are the young horses ready to be removed from its mother. Well, on average a foal is ready for weaning anywhere from 3 to 6 months of age. However, there are several factors that can help you determine which time is the right one such as its nutritional habits, socialization manners, the training it has received, and ofcourse its overall health. Let's take a look at how nutrition affects the horse weaning process.

Keep in mind that although most foals tend to experiment eating solid foods simply from observing their mother, you should not start the foal weaning process until your young horse feels totally comfortable eating solid foods such as grain, hay and grass. You can expect your foal to start eating these types of foods around the age of three months. Reason being that its mother's milk is simply not enough to provide their nutritional needs at this point and their bodies require other proteins and minerals. Weaning a horse that is only accustomed to its mother's milk will complicate things for you in the long run so make sure to wait until the opportune moment.

Another way to prepare for foal weaning is to pay attention to its socialization mannerisms. Mother nature will almost always ensure that your horse learns how to conduct itself in a herd with other horses. Most alpha mares or even the foal's mother will teach their offspring how to behave, their horse body language and natural instincts. Only a foal that has developed these natural socialization skills will be ready for safe foal weaning.

It will surely come in handy for you to train your foal how to lead and how to accept a halter before engaging in horse weaning. These solid foundations should be implemented in order to make the foal weaning easier because the foal will not be as reluctant to move along during the process and will allow you to interact with it.

Last but not least comes the overall health of the foal. Do not attempt to remove a foal from its dam if the young horse is not healthy. Foal weaning adds a lot of stress to a young foal's life which can result in further complications if the foal is ill to begin with. Wait until the young horse has returned to full health before removing it from its dam.